Combination-door.



PATENTED OCT. 1, 1907.

H. THOMAS. y GOMBINATION DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4,1907.

5l n 02 "for lkuflylwomas atbozmu o W1 ha eoaeo PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY THOMAS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMBINATIOFLDOOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1, 1907.

Application filed April 4, 1907. Serial No. 366,352-

To all n hom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new andusefnl Improvements in Combination- Doors, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved combination door provided with a plurality of panels which may be changed at will, so as to produce a glass paneled, wood, or screen door, and a further object of the invention is to provide an improved door construction of this type which may be sold in knockeddown condition and readily assembled by any householder without the use of special tools, or the necessity of calling in a skilled workman.

The invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts which I shall hereinafter fully describe and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accoin'panying drawings; in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a'combinatio'n door embodying the principles of my invention; Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the stiles; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the other stile; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the relatively stationary panel; Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1; and, Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of filling strips hereinafter referred to. I

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The frame of my improved door structure comprises stiles that are constructed in upper and lower sections l1, 22. One section of each stile is formed at its end with a tongue or bead 3 adapted for interlocking engagement by a sliding movement with a groove formed in the adjacent end of its mating section.

4 designates the upper rail which is provided at its ends with tongues 5 adapted to interlock with corresponding grooves formed in the upper sections 1 and 2 at the upper ends of the latter, so that the rail may be secured to the upper ends of the stiles by slipping it downwardly into place.

The lower and relatively stationary panel 6 is provided at its side edges with tongues 7 adapted to interlock by longitudinally sliding movement with correspondingly formed grooves in the opposing sides of the stiles, the said panel being preferably of such height that it will project above the joint between the stile sections and thereby assist in producing a rigid structure. In order to further strengthen the structure,

metallic plates or strips 8 may be employed, the same joints between the upper rail 4 and the stiles, and the E stationary panel 6 and the stiles at the lower edge of the door, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

9 designates the lock case which is received in suitable mortises formed in the stile sections 1, 1 and which, overlaps the joint between said sections so as to serve as a strengthening strap or plate at such joint.

The rail 4 is formed in its lower edge with a longitudinal groove 10; the stationary panel 6 is formed in its upper edge with a groove designated 11; and the upper stile section 2 is formed in its inner side with a vertical groove 12 in alinement with the grooves 10 and 11. A removable panel 13 is adapted to be inserted with a horizontal movement through an opening 14 formed in the upper stile section 1 at the free edge of the door and to be slid within the grooves 10 and 11 so as to bring up in the groove 12'and form a snug fit. The stationary panel 6 is formed with a chamber 15 constituting a. storage compartment for one or more panels that are designed to be interchanged with the panel 13. In the present instance the upper and lower walls of the storage compartment 15 are formed with slightly projecting tongues or rails 16 separating the compartment into two parts so that two removable panels 17 and 18 may be slid with a horizontal movement into the stationary panel 6 and either removed therefrom and be replaced by another panel, without interference with the remaining panel. In the present instance, I have illustrated three panels, one of which is a glass panel,

another a solid or wooden panel, and another a screen panel, so that the door will be a triple combination door capable of being readily changed so as to be transparent, opaque, or serve as a screen door. It is manifest, however, that the invention is not limited to this exact arrangement, as two panels only may be used, or if desired, more than three.

The removable panels are of such proportions with respect to the spaces into which they fit that their front edges will be set back slightly from the free edge of the door, and to produce a neat and smooth appearance at the free edge of the door, I have provided mortise strips 19 and 20 adapted to fit respectively in the end of the opening 14 and chamber 15. These strips may be provided at one end with a pin and at the other end with a small spring catch, adapted to be received in sockets so as to hold the strips securely in place as against accidental detachment.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawing, it willbe seen that I have provided a simple, durable, and eflicient construction of door with interchangeable panels, the knock down characteristicsof the-structure enabling the doors to be furnished by the manufacturer with the parts separated, the simplicity of the construction enabling the purchaser to easily assemble the parts without any special tools, and without the-necessity of depending upon a skilled carpenter.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

2. A door, consisting of stiles, a top rail and a relatively stationary lower panel, said panel being formed with a chamber constituting a storage compartment for panels, and the upper and lower walls oi. said chamber being formed with tongues so that two panels of the proper size may be received in said chamber, and one separated from the other, the upper portion of the stile at the free edge of the door being formed with an opening extending therethrough, and a removable panel adapted to he slipped with a horizontal motion through said opening to close the space between the lower panel and the top rail.

Witnesses:

Rrcmmn D. SCANLON, Lnnwlo WAmznNnonFF. 

